When Hello Kitty first appeared on a clear vinyl coin purse in 1974, few could have imagined this adorable feline character would become a treasured cultural icon sold in more than 60 countries. Sanrio, the Japanese design company that created Hello Kitty was founded on the philosophy that a small gift can bring happiness and friendship to people of all ages. This half-Japanese, half-English (born in the suburbs of London) cartoon cat sporting a red bow quickly resonated with young girls and their parents. Today Hello Kitty can be seen adorning the wares of brands such as Diesel, Stussy, Vans, Reebok, Colette, Liberty, Forever 21, Uniqlo, Swarovski, and Crabtree and Evelyn. She's also on TV, releases music albums, stars in video games and has been the US children's ambassador for Unicef since 1983. Hello Kitty the book celebrates 40 years of this global phenomenon, with contributions from leading figures in the worlds of fashion, art and media, and showcases the simple universally embraced aesthetic while exploring the reasons for its unparalleled success

Contributions by: Sanrio